~ Kick-off to weekly port calls from RCI vessels ~
PORT ST. MAARTEN – Royal Caribbean International (RCI) Grandeur of the Seas will be RCI’s first ship to return to the destination on a commercial cruise visit on Sunday. A hosts of welcome activities have been planned by stakeholders to welcome the near 2000 guests.
The first RCI vessel on Sunday will kick-off weekly port calls from RCI cruise ships. Port St. Maarten Management would like to remind all stakeholders and the populace to continue to welcome our cruise passengers with a warm St. Maarten smile and to be courteous.
On Sunday morning, the first cruise passengers to step off the ship will receive a warm Caribbean holiday season welcome from DOW’s Steel Pan Band, stilt walkers, dancers and Carnival Queens. A performance is also planned by the Charlotte Brookson School Choir who will sing the St. Maarten anthem. Music during the day will also be provided by the Village Life Band.
Port St. Maarten will also distribute complimentary #SXMStrong wrist bands to passengers who come ashore.
Activities are also planned throughout the day on the Boardwalk near the Captain Hodge Wharf in Philipsburg that includes a steel band; a mini-parade with the Youmay Drum Band, and DJ entertainment. These are being organized by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. Another area of similar activities is planned at the Walter Plantz Square.
The remaining cruise ship calls for December are: December 19, 25, 26, 27, and 31. There will be two ships in port on Christmas day and three on Boxing day.
The RCI ships and port call dates are as follows: Independence of the Seas, December 25; Jewel of the Seas, December 26; Freedom of the Seas, December 27; and Adventure of the Seas,December 31.
Royal Caribbean International is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture.
Together, these six brands operate a combined total of 43 ships with an additional six under construction contracts, and two on firm order. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490 destinations on all seven continents.
RCL is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 46-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry “firsts” never before seen at sea. The cruise line sails 23 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships calling on more than 288 destinations in 77 countries across six continents visiting the most popular destinations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, South America, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand.
